A great showcase for the PlayStation2 platform, Dynasty Warriors 3 is both a terrific hole-up-for-the-weekend title and a good multiplayer party game. The developers must have been busy with many a user test and feedback survey form: most of the features people complained about in DW2 have been overhauled or tweaked. These improvements mixed with the addition of the two-player option make this a truly great PS2 title. If you liked the last version, you'll be enthralled with this combination of compelling story and complex martial arts action.

Parents--and anyone else interested in a game that's a little more socially redeeming than some of the current fare--take note: Dynasty Warriors 3 is loosely based on remarkable Chinese legends. The violence is well-done and subtle, and playing this game could actually cause your kid to pick up a book (something other than a strategy guide).

Here's what's different:

New characters--and more characters--all with unique personality traits.

Great new cinematics (they're better visually, and provide a more compelling story line).

RPG-style weapons management and "found items."

Two-player games, including cooperative musou and free mode, and combative single games.

Fewer life buns, which means players must be more judicious within big battles (and you can no longer think of officers as food sources).

Important updates are now spoken aloud instead of flashing by as screen text.

More balance in the powers given to each character.

Characters have been recalibrated so that individuals other than the big bruisers--including women characters--have their own advantages. (Zhang He may even be the first gay character in one of these games, based on his killer figure-skating attack.)

Archers are now even more of a threat, and are reasonably indestructible.

For many maps, you now have to be a general before even thinking of climbing on a horse.

One word: elephants

Here's what stayed the same (some of which probably should have changed):

Sparse maps that cause you to retrace your steps frequently.

The stupid Limp Bizkit-meets-Yes soundtrack.

The controls, which is only nice for those of us who built up calluses on the last version.

--Jennifer Hauseman

A great showcase for the PlayStation2 platform, Dynasty Warriors 3 is both a terrific hole-up-for-the-weekend title and a good multiplayer party game. The developers must have been busy with many a user test and feedback survey form: most of the features people complained about in DW2 have been overhauled or tweaked. These improvements mixed with the addition of the two-player option make this a truly great PS2 title. If you liked the last version, you'll be enthralled with this combination of compelling story and complex martial arts action.

Parents--and anyone else interested in a game that's a little more socially redeeming than some of the current fare--take note: Dynasty Warriors 3 is loosely based on remarkable Chinese legends. The violence is well-done and subtle, and playing this game could actually cause your kid to pick up a book (something other than a strategy guide).

Here's what's different:

New characters--and more characters--all with unique personality traits.

Great new cinematics (they're better visually, and provide a more compelling story line).

RPG-style weapons management and "found items."

Two-player games, including cooperative musou and free mode, and combative single games.

Fewer life buns, which means players must be more judicious within big battles (and you can no longer think of officers as food sources).

Important updates are now spoken aloud instead of flashing by as screen text.

More balance in the powers given to each character.

Characters have been recalibrated so that individuals other than the big bruisers--including women characters--have their own advantages. (Zhang He may even be the first gay character in one of these games, based on his killer figure-skating attack.)

Archers are now even more of a threat, and are reasonably indestructible.

For many maps, you now have to be a general before even thinking of climbing on a hors